Boxing: Ireland will have only one boxer, Michael Roche of Cork, at the Sydney Olympics following the controversial defeat of Dubliner Bernard Dunne who was competing for the last remaining qualifying spot in the Featherweight Division in Venice yesterday, writes Pat Roche. It will be the lowest Irish entry at the Games.
Dunne was beaten by Finland's Joni Turunen on a 7-5 scoreline but despite Turunen's covering up tactics Dunne caught him with a solid right hand to the chin towards the end of the third round and only the bell seemed to rescue Turunen. The Finn got to his feet in a groggy state on the count of six and the bell sounded seconds later. "I am disgusted with the scoring, I was adjudged to be a point behind at the end of the first and second rounds when I thought I had done enough to be ahead and, even though I decked him they had me a bizarre five points behind at the end of the third," said Dunne.
Ireland had better luck in the European qualifiers also being contested in Venice. Drogheda bantam Damien McKenna and Arklow welter James Moore both qualified with semi-final wins and will box for gold today.
McKenna beat Italian Carmine Molaro and will face Spain's Juan Garcia today. Moore beat a Slovac Bejan Zavec and meets Poland's Martsz Cendrowski also today.
Cricket: Olan Kelleher, who has played for Munster at both rugby and cricket, has been elected president of Cork County Cricket Club for the coming season, writes Karl Johnston. Ted Williamson, who was capped for Ireland in 1998 and who has seven years' experience of Leinster cricket, is the new captain of the first XI.
President: Olan Kelleher; Hon Treasurer: David Griffin; Hon Secretary: Joe Thorpe; Captain first XI: Ted Williamson.
Basketball: The Irish Junior women suffered their third defeat in as many days at the European Championships semi-final pool in Greece yesterday, writes Ian O'Riordan. Despite leading Turkey 26-23 at half-time, Ireland eventually fell on a score of 5641. Michelle Fahy was top Irish scorer with a 13-point contribution, with both Nessa O'Keeffe (9) and Kim Fitzpatrick (8) also putting up strong performances.
Cycling: Three months after he turned professional, Waterford rider Ciaran Power looks set to ride this year's Tour of Italy (May 13th-June 4th), with the announcement yesterday that the Linda McCartney cycling team have been granted a place in the three-week race.
